Overview

Whisper of Scandal by Nicola Cornick

Lady Joanna Ware has no desire to wed again but that doesn't stop the flurry of suitors knocking on her door. Desperate to thwart another proposal, Joanna brazenly kisses Arctic explorer Alex, Lord Grant. Unable to deny the blazing attraction that flares, Joanna knows she's just set the gossip mill turning.

After suffering countless infidelities during her marriage, she's accustomed to scandal. But nothing prepares her for the shocking news that her deceased husband has bequeathed his illegitimate child to her and his friend Alex. As rumors run rampant in the ton, Joanna and Alex travel to the Arctic to claim the orphan. Battling blizzards, dangerous wildlife and a treacherous plot, Alex must protect Joanna, but not before he wickedly seduces her .

Product Details

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Nicola Cornick has written over thirty historical romances for Harlequin and HQN Books. She has been nominated twice for a RWA RITA Award and twice for the UK RNA Award. She works as a historian and guide in a seventeenth century house. In 2006 she was awarded a Masters degree with distinction from Ruskin College, Oxford, where she wrote her dissertation on heroes.

Editorial Reviews

Desperate to deflect an unwanted suitor, widowed Lady Joanna Ware plants a passionate kiss on her husband's best friend and fellow adventurer, Alex Grant. Within an hour, rumors are flying that she's his mistress. Cornick steers this standard Regency plot into uncharted waters when Alex and Joanna head off to the Arctic Circle in search of her husband's bastard daughter. Drawing on the history of Arctic travel, Cornick gives the reader a compelling landscape as backdrop to the burgeoning romance, along with wonderful scenes such as a London ball celebrating Alex's exploits with ice sculptures, white satin waterfalls, and an artificial version of the Northern Lights. Several of the lively side characters will presumably feature in the planned sequels, currently set for release in November and December. (Oct.)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Is it possible for two people to have been involved another's life and see this individual so totally differently? Can a person be a saint to one and a sinner to the other - absolutely, in the case of one David Ware.
His widow Lady Joanna saw the man and her life with him as cold, desolate and at times brutal. His best friend Alexander, Lord Grant saw an explorer, hero and the greatest example of what one can accomplish in life with hard work and adventuresome spirit. Joanna never felt love for this match but despised that he blamed her for their lack of children and made no pains to disguise his infidelity and outright betrayal of her trust. Alex has nothing but disdain for Joanna and feels that all the words of evil that David spoke are true and cannot see any redeeming factors surrounding her or the lavish lifestyle she leads. He sees her as frivolous and taking full advantage of the tidy sum David left his widow. But peeling back an onion reveals numerous layers does it not?
By fate, circumstance and responsibility are out of control for both Joanna and Alex's as they are forced to face each other and come to a compromise of sorts as it seems David is still manipulating both of them from the grave. With Alex a part of David's extended life and best friend David gave Alex the responsibility of handling his estate and carrying out his final wishes which he never thought included Joanna and a sea adventure. So by bad luck Alex is forced to Seal the Deal with Joanna and while both of them stand their ground about how David was in their individual lives and fight every time they share space they do agree to the terms that were set aside in the codicil even if it involves sailing to The Arctic to retrieve what David so carelessly left behind.
But the more time Alex spends with Joanna the more he comes to see her as the greatest of temptations and less the vixen he had thought her to be. She is warm, loving and cares for those who are less fortunate. Her kisses are all too soon melting his heart and turning up his passion for not just any woman but this woman that he at first thought a frivolous. But Joanna is strong and just as full of the lust for him as he has for her and shows him that in preconceived notations some turn out to be very untrue. The adventure aboard the Sea Witch shows both of them what they are made of how important they are to one another. They each tear down the other's walls of despair and prior guilt to burn up the nights with a flame that comes from no candle but instead from deep inside their being.
With every Nicola Cornick book you know you are in for a wonderful read and a most enjoyable adventure. This book and adventure in no way disappoint and in fact make it so you start reading slower just to not have the book come to an end. The writing style is lush and with each page you know that there are two characters that jump out at you and many background characters that are not there to just fill space but bring life to the story. Thank you Nicola for another beautiful reading adventure.
Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at www.marygramlich.com

LadyHester

More than 1 year ago

This book was poorly written. The author needed some extensive editing. I was not impressed with the characters or the story line and I will not read any more books by this author.

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harstan

More than 1 year ago

In 1811 Navy Captain Alex Grant visits Lady Joanna Ware, the widow of his late best friend David to offer his condolences. His only regret was the mission to find a North East trade route through the North Pole kept him from doing so eighteen months ago when David died on that quest. However, he is stunned to see some miscreant demanding she consider his suit.
Joanna greets Alex by calling him darling and gives him a welcome home kiss. Both are stunned by the reaction in light of the fact they never liked each other. Each has mixed feelings between desiring more kisses and wanting to run away from each other. However, keeping away from each other is not an option as they must journey to the Arctic to bring her stepdaughter home.
The Arctic trek brings a fascinating fresh subplot to a strong Regency romance starring a widow and widower who from that first searing kiss know they loathe yet desire each other. The lead couple is a wonderful match as each has preconceptions of the other based on their respective relationship to David. Fast-paced whether it is London or the Arctic, sub-genre fans will relish this entertaining historical.
Harriet Klausner

AAR

More than 1 year ago

WHISPER OF SCANDAL by Nicola Cornick is a wonderful historical romance set in 1811 London and the Arctic. It is well written with details and depth. It has danger, romance, secrets, betrayal, sensuality, intrigue, danger, wit, adventure, a high sea voyage, suspense and of course true love in the making. The characters are enchanting, interesting, believable, handsome, adventurous, and determined. The hero, Alex, is handsome, trustworthy, sexy, passionate about his work, an adventurer and determined to see Lady Joanna safety on her voyage to claim her dead husband's heir. The heroine, Lady Joanna, is beautiful, society's hostess, elegant, has great secrets, been abused by her dead husband, and is determined to make the tract to claim her ward. Alex only knows what he has learned from his friend, Lady Joanna's husband, what a disgraced, disheartened, cold hearted wife she is. He will soon learn all is not what it seems with the daring,lovable Lady Joanna. Joanna, only knows of the wickedness of her late husband, what an adventurer truly is, for her late husband was abusive to her in every way imaginable. She will soon learn also all is not what it seems. Alex, is trustworthy, a man of his word, honorable, and passionate. Joanna, is brave, passionate, sexy and not the vain, cold, self serving woman he thought her to be. For she is loved by society, beautiful, determined, carries her hurt well deguised as cold comments and a cold demeaner. They embark on a voyage across the seas to obtain her ward and in the process learn to trust each other and truly fall in love. This is a fast paced, page turner with twists and turns and a wonderful cast of characters that will keep you turning the page long into the night. If you enjoy history, passion, danger, coming together of two wounded hearts you will enjoy this one. This book was received for review from Net Galley and details can be found at Harlequin and My Book Addiction and More.